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American Civil War Weapons

The American Civil War was fought on the verge of a military revolution in small arms. Both the Confederate and Union forces were armed with a combination of weapons on their last legs and new items that became the forefathers of modern artillery, including cavalry swords and sabers.

Modern cartridge rifles like the Spencer repeating carbine showed the world what the rifle could be and that repeaters were the future of infantry rifles. The Union forces make extensive use of the Gatling gun, which while not technically a machine gun, did reveal it as a possibility. Bayonets of different styles and types were still heavy employed, as well as a variety of different muskets. Muskets came from American factories, and were imported from French, Prussian, and Belgian sources.


Quick Facts

  • The Lemat revolver was a French design that employed a unique shotgun barrel placed beneath the normal barrel
  • The Gatling gun was invented by a doctor named Richard Gatling
  • The Civil War was the last major conflict in which swords were used with regularity

Recommended Items at Auction

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Spiller & Burr Confederate Side Arm Cased with powder flask
Jun 21, 9:30 AM EDT
Spiller & Burr Confederate Side Arm Cased with powder flask
by Old Barn Auction
Est: $40- $1,000
$5,50040 Bids
Nashville Plow Works Confederate Sword
Jun 21, 9:30 AM EDT
Nashville Plow Works Confederate Sword
by Old Barn Auction
Est: $40- $1,000
$7,50024 Bids
Colt Model 1851 Navy .36 cal., Percussion Revolver
Jun 21, 9:30 AM EDT
Colt Model 1851 Navy .36 cal., Percussion Revolver
by Old Barn Auction
Est: $40- $1,000
$1,30021 Bids
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CIVIL WAR ERA NON-REGULATION FOOT OFFICER'S SWORD, GERMAN-MADE FOR THE AMERICAN MARKET
Jun 28, 9:00 AM EDT
CIVIL WAR ERA NON-REGULATION FOOT OFFICER'S SWORD, GERMAN-MADE FOR THE AMERICAN MARKET
by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
Est: $200- $300
$1304 Bids
CIVIL WAR COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
CIVIL WAR COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $600- $800
$5254 Bids
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1860's Confederate Civil War Artillery Short Sword
Jun 21, 9:00 AM MDT
1860's Confederate Civil War Artillery Short Sword
by North American Auction Company
Est: $550- $750
$1254 Bids
W.R.K. marked Antique Sword
Jun 21, 9:30 AM EDT
W.R.K. marked Antique Sword
by Old Barn Auction
Est: $40- $1,000
$904 Bids
Horstmann’s Phil. Model 1840 Musicians Sword
Jun 21, 9:30 AM EDT
Horstmann’s Phil. Model 1840 Musicians Sword
by Old Barn Auction
Est: $40- $1,000
$803 Bids
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Civil War 1860's Rogers Cutlery Confederate Knife
Jun 21, 9:00 AM MDT
Civil War 1860's Rogers Cutlery Confederate Knife
by North American Auction Company
Est: $750- $950
$603 Bids
Remington 1858 New Model Army Revolver (1863)
Jun 21, 10:00 AM CDT
Remington 1858 New Model Army Revolver (1863)
by Circle Auction
Est: $500- $1,000
$2752 Bids
CIVIL WAR COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
CIVIL WAR COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $600- $800
$3502 Bids
Civil War Era U.S. 1860 Saber Roby (1864)
Jun 28, 12:00 PM EDT
Civil War Era U.S. 1860 Saber Roby (1864)
by Blackwell Auctions LLC
Est: $500- $1,000
$2752 Bids
CIVIL WAR SMITH .50 PERCUSSION CARBINE
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
CIVIL WAR SMITH .50 PERCUSSION CARBINE
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $800- $1,000
$4001 Bid
CIVIL WAR U.S. MODEL 1863 SPRINGFIELD, ID S. COLE
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
CIVIL WAR U.S. MODEL 1863 SPRINGFIELD, ID S. COLE
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $300- $500
$1501 Bid
Model 1850 U.S. Foot Officer's Sword Clauberg
Jun 28, 12:00 PM EDT
Model 1850 U.S. Foot Officer's Sword Clauberg
by Blackwell Auctions LLC
Est: $200- $400
$1001 Bid
Burnside 1856 Carbine (ca. 1863-65)
Jun 21, 10:00 AM CDT
Burnside 1856 Carbine (ca. 1863-65)
by Circle Auction
Est: $750- $1,500
$4001 Bid
CIVIL WAR AUSTRIAN PERCUSSION SHORT MUSKET, BENTZ
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
CIVIL WAR AUSTRIAN PERCUSSION SHORT MUSKET, BENTZ
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $400- $800
$2001 Bid
CIVIL WAR WILLIAM MUIR US MODEL 1861 RIFLE MUSKET
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
CIVIL WAR WILLIAM MUIR US MODEL 1861 RIFLE MUSKET
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $200- $400
$1001 Bid
100 LOT US CIVIL WAR BULLET & CARTRIDGE COLLECTION
Jun 25, 9:00 AM EDT
100 LOT US CIVIL WAR BULLET & CARTRIDGE COLLECTION
by Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC
Est: $100- $200
$301 Bid
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Antique Flatware Including 3 Forks & 1 Knife
Jul 17, 10:00 AM EDT
Antique Flatware Including 3 Forks & 1 Knife
by Berner's Auction Gallery
Est: $10- $10,000
$11 Bid
FRANKLIN MINT COLLECTOR CIVIL WAR KNIVES
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
FRANKLIN MINT COLLECTOR CIVIL WAR KNIVES
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $75- $150
$400 Bids
CIVIL WAR ANTIQUE CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
CIVIL WAR ANTIQUE CARTRIDGES AND PROJECTILES
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $700- $1,000
$3500 Bids
AN AMERICAN .52 RIM-FIRE SPENCER CIVIL WAR MODEL REPEATING CARBINE, NO. 54857, CIRCA 1863-65
Jun 26, 11:00 AM BST
AN AMERICAN .52 RIM-FIRE SPENCER CIVIL WAR MODEL REPEATING CARBINE, NO. 54857, CIRCA 1863-65
by Olympia Auctions
Est: £600- £900
£3000 Bids
Model 1850 U.S. Officer's Sword Horstmann
Jun 28, 12:00 PM EDT
Model 1850 U.S. Officer's Sword Horstmann
by Blackwell Auctions LLC
Est: $200- $400
$1000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell American Civil War Weapons


Blackwell Auctions LLC

Blackwell Auctions LLC

Milestone Auctions

Milestone Auctions

North American Auction Company

North American Auction Company